Session P15: Biologically Inspired Physics: Swimming, Propulsion, Bio-fluids

8:00 AM–11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Room: 316

Sponsoring Unit: DFD
Chair: Silas Alben, Georgia Institute of Technology

Abstract ID: BAPS.2009.MAR.P15.1

Abstract: P15.00001 : Swimming in a vortex street

8:00 AM–8:12 AM

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Author:

  Silas Alben
    (Georgia Tech)

Recent studies showed that a trout swimming in a cylinder wake can save energy by ``slaloming'' through a vortex street. We present a simple model using a flexible body with vortex sheets, and find swimming shapes which maximize output power and efficiency. We find analytic solutions and compare the optimal swimming phase between the body and vortices with previous experiments and numerics.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2009.MAR.P15.1